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Spyridon GIANNIOTIS
Sport Open Water Swimming
NOC Greece   
GenderMen
Born19 Feb 1980 in Liverpool, ENG
Height1.85 m
Weight 78 kg
 Human Interest 
General Interest
Hobbies
 Meeting friends for coffee. (FINA Aquatic World Magazine, 12 Jun 2011)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?
 His mother had been involved in swimming and enrolled him in lessons.
General Interest
Awards and honours
 He was voted 2012 Greek Athlete of the Year by a poll of Greek sports journalists. (olympiacos.org, 10 Dec 2012)
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?
 He began swimming lessons at age five.
Further Personal Information
Languages
 English, Greek
General Interest
Nicknames
 Spyros, Spiros (Facebook profile, 16 Oct 2016; FINA Aquatic World Magazine, 12 Jun 2011)
Other information
 RETIREMENT
He retired from competitive swimming in August 2016 after winning a silver medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. "Every single metre of the training, every single day and hour, it's just come down to the perfect moment. I think that's a really good way to go." (thenationalherald.com, 16 Aug 2016)

FAMILY BACKGROUND
He was born in England to an English mother and moved to Greece at age three. (FINA Aquatic World Magazine, 12 Jun 2011; 10kswimmer.com, 10 Sep 2008)

TORCH BEARER
He was the first torch bearer for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, beginning at the Temple of Hera in Ancient Olympia where the torch was lit using the sun's rays. (insidethegames.biz, 26 Mar 2012)
Further Personal Information
Residence
 Athens, GRE
General Interest
Most influential person in career
 His family, and coach Nikos Gemelos. (andro.gr, 16 Dec 2014)
Sporting philosophy / motto
 "Whatever you put your mind to can be realised." (zappit.gr, 21 Jun 2015)
Further Personal Information
Family
 Wife Ismini

 Competition Highlights
Olympic Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
Heats 2008 Beijing, CHN 400m Freestyle 3:49.34
Heats 2008 Beijing, CHN 1500m Freestyle 14:53.32
5 2004 Athens, GRE 1500m Freestyle 15:03.69 
7 2004 Athens, GRE 400m Freestyle 3:48.77 
Heat 2000 Sydney, NSW, AUS 400m Freestyle 3:54.96
Heats 2000 Sydney, NSW, AUS    
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
Heats 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 1500m Freestyle 15:15.85
18 2005 Montreal, CAN 1500m Freestyle 15:30.97 
23 2005 Montreal, CAN 400m Freestyle 3:53.19 
Heats 2005 Montreal, QC, CAN 800m Freestyle 8:07.46
Heats 2003 Barcelona, ESP 1500m Freestyle 15:25.16
7 2001 Fukuoka, JPN 400m Freestyle 3:52.09
9 2001 Fukuoka, JPN 1500m Freestyle 15:20.62
18 2001 Fukuoka, JPN 800m Freestyle 8:07.53
World Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
25 2002 Moscow, RUS 400m Freestyle 3:52.58
12 2002 Moscow, RUS 1500m Freestyle 15:10.01
7 2002 Moscow, RUS 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:15.57
17 2000 Athens, GRE 1500m Freestyle 15:44.59
9 2000 Athens, GRE 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:22.59
European Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
5 2008 Eindhoven, NED 1500m Freestyle 15:11.27
Heats 2006 Budapest, HUN 1500m Freestyle 15:18.68
8 2006 Budapest, HUN 400m Freestyle 3:51.40
9 2004 Madrid, ESP 400m Freestyle 3:53.37
4 2004 Madrid, ESP 1500m Freestyle 15:15.87
4 2004 Madrid, ESP 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:21.26
3 2002 Berlin, GER 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 1:51.62
12 2000 Helsinki, FIN 400m Freestyle 3:57.62
13 2000 Helsinki, FIN 1500m Freestyle 15:47.47
10 2000 Helsinki, FIN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:37.34
European Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
8 2004 Vienna, AUT 1500m Freestyle 15:05.64
11 2004 Vienna, AUT 400m Freestyle 3:48.12
14 2003 Dublin, IRL 1500m Freestyle 15:18.33
13 2003 Dublin, IRL 400m Freestyle 3:47.40
8 2002 Riesa, GER 400m Freestyle 3:48.60
7 2002 Riesa, GER 1500m Freestyle 15:04.67
6 2001 Antwerp, BEL 1500m Freestyle 14:57.51
5 2001 Antwerp, BEL 400m Freestyle 3:45.46
7 2000 Valencia, ESP 1500m Freestyle 15:06.52
10 2000 Valencia, ESP 400m Freestyle 3:51.00
World Cup Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
3 2001/2002 Berlin, GER 1500m Freestyle 15:09.58
3 2000/2001 Sheffield, ENG 400m Freestyle 3:48.80
2 2000/2001 Sheffield, ENG 1500m Freestyle 15:13.53
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
3 2015 Kazan, RUS 10km 1:50:00.7
8 2015 Kazan, RUS 5km - Team Time Trial 56:18.6
1 2013 Barcelona, ESP 10km 1:49:11.8
6 2013 Barcelona, ESP 25km 4:47:31.3
2 2013 Barcelona, ESP 5km - Team Time Trial 54:03.3
1 2011 Shanghai, CHN 10km 1:54:24.7
2 2011 Shanghai, CHN 5km 56:17.4
6 2011 Shanghai, CHN 5km - Team Time Trial 59:22.8
2 2009 Rome, ITA 5 km 56:27.2
6 2009 Rome, ITA 10km 1:52:13.6
3 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 5km 56:56.6
31 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 10km 1:58:42.68
European Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
5 2016 Hoorn, NED 10km 1:55:25.0
8 2014 Berlin, GER 10km 1:50:05.1
2 2014 Berlin, GER 5km - Team Time Trial 56:05.5
3 2010 Balatonfüred, HUN 5 km 59:15.9
7 2010 Balatonfüred, HUN 10km 1:54:33.7
1 2010 Balatonfüred, HUN 5km - Team Time Trial 59:03.0
6 2008 Dubrovnik, CRO 10km 1:52:53.7
1 2008 Dubrovnik, CRO 5 km 52:57.2
4 2008 Dubrovnik, CRO 5km - Team Time Trial 58:08.1
World Cup
Rank Year Venue Event Result
12 2016 Abu Dhabi, UAE 10km 1:47:50.90
2 2015 Balatonfüred, HUN 10km 1:41:44.51
  2014 Setúbal, POR 10km  DNF
1 2012   10km  
2 2012 Cancún, MEX 10km 1:57:16.55
1 2012 Eilat, ISR 10km 1:52:32.45
1 2012 Santos, BRA 10km 2:11:39.51
1 2012 Shantou, CHN 10km 1:50:41.70
1 2012 Viedma, ARG 10km 1:55:29
2 2011 Santos, BRA 10km 2:06:08.00
1 2011 Setúbal, POR 10km 1:40:29.5
5 2011 Shantou, CHN 10km 1:54:29.99
4 2009 Setúbal, POR 10km 1:34:29.70
7 2008 Dubai, UAE 10km 1:49:05.05
4 2007   10km  
2 2007 Shantou, CHN 10km 1:43:20.65
3 2007 Singapore, SGP 10km 1:57:38
3 2007 Vienna, AUT 10km 1:54:07.23